A new Saturday slaps me in the face as my body suddenly becomes conscious. My brother's obnoxious alarm sounds through the hallway. Turn that off already, June. I recite the words of my mother, Kat, inside my head. Then, I hear her voice from the bedroom down the hall, "June, honey, can't you turn that off?!" See, I told you it was coming. My mother is trying to get more sleep since she switched from the day to night shift, and since my brother has his alarm on repeat till he wakes up- which won't be for another 20 minutes, I'm the one who has to shut it off. Yawning, I gingerly swing my legs over the edge of my bed, still sore from helping my brother chase the dogs he walks. That's a story for another time.

I make the routine trip to his room, and open the door. There lies Kam, his legs too long for his bed, his room too clean for my liking. I reach over his peaceful body and the click click of the off button echos. Just as I turn the door ****, a fleck of white outside gravitates my eyes toward the window. What? It can't be. They're sleeping! Ghost-like figures of my brother and mother are walking away from the house hand in hand. I rub my eyes and they're still there. How?

Somehow, seeing them without me makes my heart drop. Memories of birthdays come to mind, Kat always made those days so special. All the bright decorations and gifts. The sweet smiles and strawberry cake. She always puts so much hard work into whatever she does. Then I remembered the look of relief on Kam's face when I caught one of the dogs who braved the electric fence. Kindel didn't have to bring me along on his job and split his income with me. But he did anyway.  

I looked out the window again to see that the fake versions of my family were still walking- without me. Desperately, more desperately than ever before, I wanted to be with them. To walk with them, and hold their hands. I keep staring, watching, waiting for them to walk my way. But, instead, they disappear- without me.

My hands instantly cover the newly discovered pools in my eyes. I can't help it. I've never cried before, but my body suddenly releases all the tension it's ever held.
A gentle hand suddenly touches my shoulder, "Hey! Hey! J! What's with the tear- '' Instantly, I turn around and hug Kam tight. So tight that he coughs. "Aw Jbird! cough I love you." My face buried into his broad shoulders, I can feel myself softly smiling in relief.